The Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) are available for review and comment.
The Army’s proposed action is to reduce the Army’s Active Component end-strength from 562,000, as of the end of fiscal year 2012, to 420,000.These reductions are necessary to achieve the savings required by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Nearly all Army installation will be affected in some way by the reductions, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
The PEA addresses the potential reduction of up to 16,000 Soldiers at JBLM, from a baseline population of 36,222 active duty personnel. No significant, adverse environmental impacts were anticipated in the PEA for JBLM; however significant socioeconomic impacts are anticipated under Alternative 1- Implementation of Force Reductions. The following table summarizes the anticipated impacts to JBLM’s Valued Environmental Components (VECs) under each alternative analyzed in the SPEA.
Table 1. Joint Base Lewis-McChord Valued Environmental Component Impact Ratings
No significant environmental impacts are anticipated as a result of implementing Army 2020 alternatives, though socioeconomic impacts at JBLM were determined to be significant due to the population loss. Alternatives considered in the SPEA evaluate the greatest force reduction scenarios that could occur as a result of Army force drawdown. Final decisions as to which installations will see reductions or unit realignments have not been made.
All interested members of the public, federally recognized Indian Tribes, federal, state, and local agencies are invited to review and provide comments. A copy of the SPEA and Draft FNSI is available at: http://aec.army.mil/Services/Support/NEPA/Document...
The Army will accept comments until August 25, 2014. Please submit written comments or additional information to: U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: SPEA Public Comments, 2450 Connell Road (Building 2264), Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7664; or by email to usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@mail.mil